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Winter at Thistledown Hollow: A Stand-alone, Cozy Fantasy Novel of Magic, Tea, and Found Family
From the bestselling world of Thistledown Hollow comes a new, stand-alone story of healing, community, and winter magic.
Wren has inherited the Lavender Fox Inn—a two-hundred-year-old haven where lavender hangs drying from the rafters, the kettle always sings at just the right temperature, and tea brewed with intention can mend both broken bones and broken hearts. With her curious nine-year-old apprentice Emma cataloging herbs and a sarcastic familiar named Kip napping in scarves by the fire, Wren is settling into her new role as the inn's keeper.
But when the first snow falls and a winter storm blankets Thistledown Hollow, everything changes. Guests arrive seeking a lonely architect, a grieving carpenter, three mysterious sisters, and a journalist with uncomfortable questions about Wren's beloved predecessor. As they gather around the hearth sharing stories and fresh-baked bread, Wren discovers that the inn is holding a secret—one that's slowly draining its magic and threatening the warmth that has sustained the community for generations.
With the winter solstice approaching, Wren must learn what her predecessor never that healing isn't about perfect tea blends or solitary sacrifice. It's about letting people in, sharing the weight of the world, and trusting that sometimes the best magic happens when a community chooses to hold each other up.
A gentle fantasy about finding home, chosen family, and the quiet courage it takes to ask for help. Perfect for readers who loved The Inn at Thistledown Hollow and newcomers to this cozy magical world alike.
Wren has inherited the Lavender Fox Inn—a two-hundred-year-old haven where lavender hangs drying from the rafters, the kettle always sings at just the right temperature, and tea brewed with intention can mend both broken bones and broken hearts. With her curious nine-year-old apprentice Emma cataloging herbs and a sarcastic familiar named Kip napping in scarves by the fire, Wren is settling into her new role as the inn's keeper.
But when the first snow falls and a winter storm blankets Thistledown Hollow, everything changes. Guests arrive seeking a lonely architect, a grieving carpenter, three mysterious sisters, and a journalist with uncomfortable questions about Wren's beloved predecessor. As they gather around the hearth sharing stories and fresh-baked bread, Wren discovers that the inn is holding a secret—one that's slowly draining its magic and threatening the warmth that has sustained the community for generations.
With the winter solstice approaching, Wren must learn what her predecessor never that healing isn't about perfect tea blends or solitary sacrifice. It's about letting people in, sharing the weight of the world, and trusting that sometimes the best magic happens when a community chooses to hold each other up.
A gentle fantasy about finding home, chosen family, and the quiet courage it takes to ask for help. Perfect for readers who loved The Inn at Thistledown Hollow and newcomers to this cozy magical world alike.
- GenresFantasyCozy FantasyCozy
254 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 20, 2026
About the author
Devon Yates
41 books16 followersDevon Yates has been chasing dragons since long before she started writing about them — first through the pages of Tolkien and George R.R. Martin, then through the wilds of Skyrim, and now through sweeping tales of magic and destiny all her own. She recharges on wooded hiking trails with a 2000s rock playlist on repeat, firmly believing the genre's comeback is long overdue, and shares her home with a fearless Pomeranian named Boots who is convinced he is the main character. Lately, she's writing cozy fantasy; a genre near and dear to her heart.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
May 24, 2026
I read the first book, and it was one of the most bewilderingly incoherent books I’ve ever had the misfortune of finishing. But this was free, and curiosity did what curiosity always does and said, “what if it’s better this time?”
I wanted answers. Had the writing improved? Had an editor been found? Had the LLM received better training?
No. To all of the above.
Now, to be fair, There's a sort of surface level charm to the book. If you skim it while mildly sedated, it works. Bread rising. Herbs drying. Snow falling softly. Tea steaming in porcelain mugs that definitely cost too much. It’s aggressively cosy in the way a weighted blanket's cosy right before you realise you can’t move your arms.
Because the moment you actually look at the words, the illusion collapses. Take this: “Everything smelled of cold and quiet—that particular scent of winter mornings when winter holds its breath.”
First reaction: oh, cute 😍 Then my brain caught up and I realised it doesn't make a lick of sense.
Does quiet have a smell? What exactly is the scent of winter holding its breath? Is winter asthmatic?
Is winter hiding under the bed trying not to alert the serial killer that was running rampant in the last book, snatching up unsuspecting characters never to be seen again?
This entire book's written like that. It gestures vaguely toward depth and atmosphere without actually communicating anything coherent. It’s like an AI was told “write poetic cosy fantasy prose” and interpreted that as “combine random shit with abstract nouns until the humans clap.”
And then we get to continuity and the concept of time, which is where reality itself seems to give up. Buckle up, buckaroos.
You'll be told the bread's rising on the counter. Then two paragraphs later that same bread's being taken out of the oven. Then they're eating the bread. Then the bread's back in the oven. And now the bread's being kneaded.
WREN. DO NOT KNEAD THE BREAD INSIDE THE OVEN. YOU WILL BURN YOURSELF.
The bread exists in all states simultaneously. Schrödinger’s sourdough.
And then there’s Emma. Emma is Wren’s 9 year old assistant. Fine. Just glossing over the child labour laws... Except in the previous book Emma was 9… and then disappeared for a few weeks and came back THIRTEEN.
I checked. I went back to verify because I thought I was developing carbon monoxide poisoning like that guy in that one Reddit post.
From book 1: “his nine-year-old sister Emma countered…" followed by “Emma returned from her own break, thirteen years old and already showing the steady confidence of a born healer…”
WHAT HAPPENED TO HER?????
Was she trapped in the fucking Phantom Zone????
And by the end of this book (which takes place over a SINGLE WINTER), Emma is now TWELVE.
Emma is a time anomaly in a pinafore.
And then Lily. In the first book, Lily is Marcus’ wife/girlfriend/romantic interest who vanishes halfway through the story like she got deleted from the draft. Now she’s his DAUGHTER.
“Three years of his daughter’s childhood memories. My cousin Lily—she’s six now." I’m sorry. What?
So adult Lily vanishes and child Lily spawns in like a replacement NPC? Is Marcus okay??? AM I OKAY?????
Speaking of adults turning into children... we also have children turning into adults. Patricia's son Oliver is now Patricia's husband Oliver. Ma'am, I think that's illegal.
Then we get Milo and Wren’s engagement situation, which is just... I need to lie down.
In book one, Milo proposes to Wren on page 142. She says yes. Done. Established canon.
In this book: “You’re planning to marry him, yes?” “We haven’t actually discussed—” (page 41)
You haven’t discussed it? He proposed. You accepted. That was the discussion. What is there left to discuss besides catering?
Then we're dragged back into THE BINDING CEREMONY. The binding ceremony that was mentioned approximately every 14 seconds in the previous book before vanishing into the void. You remember the binding ceremony? The one where time also broke completely? Where it was the day before the binding ceremony, then suddenly 3 weeks after it, then somehow the day after it? THAT binding ceremony.
Except now I can't tell if this is the same binding ceremony or a different binding ceremony because the book seems equally confused. Now it’s apparently also an UNbinding ceremony??? Or maybe a convergence ritual???
Nobody knows. Least of all the book.
Page 154: “‘So you’re saying,’ Dominic clarified, ‘that Milo needs to marry Wren during the convergence ritual?’”
And I put the book down and whispered “what the fuck is happening.”
Because apparently the only way to make the binding ceremony legitimate is through marriage. And according to page 41 Milo and Wren aren't engaged. But according to page 142 of book 1, they are engaged. Then he proposes on page 159 of this book. This man is trapped in a perpetual engagement cycle.
At this point I expect a post-credit scene revealing they're already divorced in a future timeline we haven’t reached yet.
Their romance has the momentum of mismatched socks. Every interaction's like: “I cherish you.” “And I cherish you also.”
There’s also a chapter so unhinged I read it twice just to make sure my eyes weren't playing tricks on me.
A send-off for Thea, Wren’s aunt and former inn owner who we've never met (but then she turns up out of the blue and she's apparently always been there), involves the entire village gathering and they... cry... into a bowl?
A communal grief bowl. A room full of adults taking turns sobbing into crockery.
And through all of this, the book keeps whispering about a curse.
“After thirteen years lost to a curse… (page 5). “I lost thirteen years to a curse...” (page 95). “For the thirteen years lost to a curse…" (page 183). “For the thirteen years lost to curse…” (page 187).
But despite how often we hear about it, we don't actually know anything about said curse. It's just... The Curse™. Big bad scary curse doing what curses do.
What curse? Who curse? Why curse?
Is the curse to repeat the same words and phrases again and again?
Then we get “Sarah’s friend Margaret” who's introduced in chapters 6 and 8, implying we’ve met Sarah already. But Sarah herself doesn't appear until chapter 9. So, technically, Sarah should be "Margaret's friend Sarah"?
Hugh Bramblefoot, chicken keeper, is now Hugh Whitmore, beekeeper. Same man? New man? Witness protection? WHO KNOWS. He also seems to have inherited Lily’s old role (remember Lily? The author certainly doesn't) as Marcus’ romantic interest after adult Lily was reincarnated into a 6 year old.
And the worst part is that if you don’t examine it too closely, it almost works. The atmosphere's cosy and the imagery's warm. The idea of the village is comforting in the abstract.
It’s like looking at a beautiful painting from across the room. But then you step closer and realise the eyes are melting off everyone’s faces.
I wanted answers. Had the writing improved? Had an editor been found? Had the LLM received better training?
No. To all of the above.
Now, to be fair, There's a sort of surface level charm to the book. If you skim it while mildly sedated, it works. Bread rising. Herbs drying. Snow falling softly. Tea steaming in porcelain mugs that definitely cost too much. It’s aggressively cosy in the way a weighted blanket's cosy right before you realise you can’t move your arms.
Because the moment you actually look at the words, the illusion collapses. Take this: “Everything smelled of cold and quiet—that particular scent of winter mornings when winter holds its breath.”
First reaction: oh, cute 😍 Then my brain caught up and I realised it doesn't make a lick of sense.
Does quiet have a smell? What exactly is the scent of winter holding its breath? Is winter asthmatic?
Is winter hiding under the bed trying not to alert the serial killer that was running rampant in the last book, snatching up unsuspecting characters never to be seen again?
This entire book's written like that. It gestures vaguely toward depth and atmosphere without actually communicating anything coherent. It’s like an AI was told “write poetic cosy fantasy prose” and interpreted that as “combine random shit with abstract nouns until the humans clap.”
And then we get to continuity and the concept of time, which is where reality itself seems to give up. Buckle up, buckaroos.
You'll be told the bread's rising on the counter. Then two paragraphs later that same bread's being taken out of the oven. Then they're eating the bread. Then the bread's back in the oven. And now the bread's being kneaded.
WREN. DO NOT KNEAD THE BREAD INSIDE THE OVEN. YOU WILL BURN YOURSELF.
The bread exists in all states simultaneously. Schrödinger’s sourdough.
And then there’s Emma. Emma is Wren’s 9 year old assistant. Fine. Just glossing over the child labour laws... Except in the previous book Emma was 9… and then disappeared for a few weeks and came back THIRTEEN.
I checked. I went back to verify because I thought I was developing carbon monoxide poisoning like that guy in that one Reddit post.
From book 1: “his nine-year-old sister Emma countered…" followed by “Emma returned from her own break, thirteen years old and already showing the steady confidence of a born healer…”
WHAT HAPPENED TO HER?????
Was she trapped in the fucking Phantom Zone????
And by the end of this book (which takes place over a SINGLE WINTER), Emma is now TWELVE.
Emma is a time anomaly in a pinafore.
And then Lily. In the first book, Lily is Marcus’ wife/girlfriend/romantic interest who vanishes halfway through the story like she got deleted from the draft. Now she’s his DAUGHTER.
“Three years of his daughter’s childhood memories. My cousin Lily—she’s six now." I’m sorry. What?
So adult Lily vanishes and child Lily spawns in like a replacement NPC? Is Marcus okay??? AM I OKAY?????
Speaking of adults turning into children... we also have children turning into adults. Patricia's son Oliver is now Patricia's husband Oliver. Ma'am, I think that's illegal.
Then we get Milo and Wren’s engagement situation, which is just... I need to lie down.
In book one, Milo proposes to Wren on page 142. She says yes. Done. Established canon.
In this book: “You’re planning to marry him, yes?” “We haven’t actually discussed—” (page 41)
You haven’t discussed it? He proposed. You accepted. That was the discussion. What is there left to discuss besides catering?
Then we're dragged back into THE BINDING CEREMONY. The binding ceremony that was mentioned approximately every 14 seconds in the previous book before vanishing into the void. You remember the binding ceremony? The one where time also broke completely? Where it was the day before the binding ceremony, then suddenly 3 weeks after it, then somehow the day after it? THAT binding ceremony.
Except now I can't tell if this is the same binding ceremony or a different binding ceremony because the book seems equally confused. Now it’s apparently also an UNbinding ceremony??? Or maybe a convergence ritual???
Nobody knows. Least of all the book.
Page 154: “‘So you’re saying,’ Dominic clarified, ‘that Milo needs to marry Wren during the convergence ritual?’”
And I put the book down and whispered “what the fuck is happening.”
Because apparently the only way to make the binding ceremony legitimate is through marriage. And according to page 41 Milo and Wren aren't engaged. But according to page 142 of book 1, they are engaged. Then he proposes on page 159 of this book. This man is trapped in a perpetual engagement cycle.
At this point I expect a post-credit scene revealing they're already divorced in a future timeline we haven’t reached yet.
Their romance has the momentum of mismatched socks. Every interaction's like: “I cherish you.” “And I cherish you also.”
There’s also a chapter so unhinged I read it twice just to make sure my eyes weren't playing tricks on me.
A send-off for Thea, Wren’s aunt and former inn owner who we've never met (but then she turns up out of the blue and she's apparently always been there), involves the entire village gathering and they... cry... into a bowl?
A communal grief bowl. A room full of adults taking turns sobbing into crockery.
And through all of this, the book keeps whispering about a curse.
“After thirteen years lost to a curse… (page 5). “I lost thirteen years to a curse...” (page 95). “For the thirteen years lost to a curse…" (page 183). “For the thirteen years lost to curse…” (page 187).
But despite how often we hear about it, we don't actually know anything about said curse. It's just... The Curse™. Big bad scary curse doing what curses do.
What curse? Who curse? Why curse?
Is the curse to repeat the same words and phrases again and again?
Then we get “Sarah’s friend Margaret” who's introduced in chapters 6 and 8, implying we’ve met Sarah already. But Sarah herself doesn't appear until chapter 9. So, technically, Sarah should be "Margaret's friend Sarah"?
Hugh Bramblefoot, chicken keeper, is now Hugh Whitmore, beekeeper. Same man? New man? Witness protection? WHO KNOWS. He also seems to have inherited Lily’s old role (remember Lily? The author certainly doesn't) as Marcus’ romantic interest after adult Lily was reincarnated into a 6 year old.
And the worst part is that if you don’t examine it too closely, it almost works. The atmosphere's cosy and the imagery's warm. The idea of the village is comforting in the abstract.
It’s like looking at a beautiful painting from across the room. But then you step closer and realise the eyes are melting off everyone’s faces.
February 5, 2026
Sweet story but has issues
This is a good story, but there are some major continuity issues between this book and the first book. There are also a large number of discrepancies and editing errors that disrupted the flow of the story.
This is a good story, but there are some major continuity issues between this book and the first book. There are also a large number of discrepancies and editing errors that disrupted the flow of the story.
March 12, 2026
The storyline is promising and entertaining, but there are way too many inconsistencies both within the book and between this one and the initial story. The chapters are not in chronological order, characters' names, ages, and relationships are inconsistent.
February 24, 2026
An Enjoyable Read
It was a fabulous book. The Author is gifted in storytelling. I would recommend the series to any one. Hoping for a 3rd Thistledown Hollow book..
It was a fabulous book. The Author is gifted in storytelling. I would recommend the series to any one. Hoping for a 3rd Thistledown Hollow book..
June 11, 2026
if you don’t want it to make sense….
I really thought the first book was maybe an anomaly, badly edited or maybe just not edited at all. Getting about halfway through this and realized that somewhere along the line, the author apparently y gave up and let ai finish the books. That’s the only thing I can think of to justify the trite repetitive phrasing, the wildly inconsistent characters of who is who and the blatant disregard to timeline and events that were already established many times over.
Just couldn’t make myself slog through the rest when the husband of the grieving widow was suddenly a she in every description but still referred to as him in his name and “husband”.
Aggressively cozy AI slop, sadly, what a waste of a potentially good storyline.
I really thought the first book was maybe an anomaly, badly edited or maybe just not edited at all. Getting about halfway through this and realized that somewhere along the line, the author apparently y gave up and let ai finish the books. That’s the only thing I can think of to justify the trite repetitive phrasing, the wildly inconsistent characters of who is who and the blatant disregard to timeline and events that were already established many times over.
Just couldn’t make myself slog through the rest when the husband of the grieving widow was suddenly a she in every description but still referred to as him in his name and “husband”.
Aggressively cozy AI slop, sadly, what a waste of a potentially good storyline.
April 25, 2026
Badly AI-written (Spoiler Alert)
After reading, and mostly enjoying the first book, I can’t even bring myself to finish this one. It’s so obviously AI generated - and BADLY.
While I give Devon Yates credit for the premise, this sequel is terrible. If an author (I use the term loosely) publishes a sequel, they should make at least a cursory effort to make sure that it picks up where the other one left off. This one totally missed the mark.
1) Wren was not taught by Thea.
2) Patricia and Oliver were mother and son in the first book but suddenly became a couple in their 70s in this book.
3) Wren and Milo were engaged and planning their wedding at the end of the first book, but aren’t even engaged at the beginning of this one. Not only that, but Milo was living (and sleeping) with Wren at the end of the first book, but he’s living in his nearby cottage at the beginning of this one.
If you’re going to publish an AI-generated book, at least make a cursory effort to proofread the damn thing.
This book is pathetic.
I won’t be reading any other AI-generated offerings by Devon Yates. Given the publish dates of her other books, it’s abundantly clear that AI writes all of them.
I will save my money and attention for books written by humans.
After reading, and mostly enjoying the first book, I can’t even bring myself to finish this one. It’s so obviously AI generated - and BADLY.
While I give Devon Yates credit for the premise, this sequel is terrible. If an author (I use the term loosely) publishes a sequel, they should make at least a cursory effort to make sure that it picks up where the other one left off. This one totally missed the mark.
1) Wren was not taught by Thea.
2) Patricia and Oliver were mother and son in the first book but suddenly became a couple in their 70s in this book.
3) Wren and Milo were engaged and planning their wedding at the end of the first book, but aren’t even engaged at the beginning of this one. Not only that, but Milo was living (and sleeping) with Wren at the end of the first book, but he’s living in his nearby cottage at the beginning of this one.
If you’re going to publish an AI-generated book, at least make a cursory effort to proofread the damn thing.
This book is pathetic.
I won’t be reading any other AI-generated offerings by Devon Yates. Given the publish dates of her other books, it’s abundantly clear that AI writes all of them.
I will save my money and attention for books written by humans.
October 11, 2026
Whoever it was written by REALLY needs to find a proofreader at least!
I will say finding out after reading this that there are other books in this series makes me happy to have found this one before knowing there were others with similar features! I see now why the "Stand-alone" is so prominently part of the title. I am sorry to others who were waiting for more to a storyline, I would be so frustrated if this was what I was given.
I listened to the book as I cleaned my garage, which may be how I would recommend it to others. I was too busy to really stop and scratch my head at the inconsistencies. Then I questioned my hearing, my memory, the recording, and finally my sanity, but
seeing other reviews let me know that I heard it all "correctly."
As a stand-alone, it was sweet and cozy if you listen while mildly distracted, don't worry about how old anybody really is, don't invest in the gender or back story of the characters, forget how many times a few phrases get thrown in, and have zero expectations about how it ends.
I don't plan to read any other stories by this author, which is a shame because I did actually enjoy a few bits here and there, but the inconsistencies were major.
I will say finding out after reading this that there are other books in this series makes me happy to have found this one before knowing there were others with similar features! I see now why the "Stand-alone" is so prominently part of the title. I am sorry to others who were waiting for more to a storyline, I would be so frustrated if this was what I was given.
I listened to the book as I cleaned my garage, which may be how I would recommend it to others. I was too busy to really stop and scratch my head at the inconsistencies. Then I questioned my hearing, my memory, the recording, and finally my sanity, but
seeing other reviews let me know that I heard it all "correctly."
As a stand-alone, it was sweet and cozy if you listen while mildly distracted, don't worry about how old anybody really is, don't invest in the gender or back story of the characters, forget how many times a few phrases get thrown in, and have zero expectations about how it ends.
I don't plan to read any other stories by this author, which is a shame because I did actually enjoy a few bits here and there, but the inconsistencies were major.
May 9, 2026
I really enjoyed this fantasy with all its magic, healing teas, the spirits of the keepers gone before, becoming part of the inn. This is a wonderful story about a community that learns to tackle its problems by working together. It is about love and loss and healing. It's about learning from the past, from nature, and learning to develop the skills given to benefit those who live in Thistledown Hollow and those who pass through.
There were some confusing elements of the story that slowed down my reading. It seemed to imply that Thea was the only Keeper who became connected to the inn. But Kip said he had seen 9 Keepers die. Another thing I found confusing was that there were 3 Silent Sisters, but they were assigned to the 4 cardinal directions. Toward the end of the novel, the fact that Thea tried to do everything on her own kept being mentioned. It didn't need to be brought up so many times in consecutive chapters. I got it the first several times. The repetition toward the end of the novel seemed to be prolonging the ending unnecessarily.
All in all, I really enjoy this book and would read another by Devon Yates.
There were some confusing elements of the story that slowed down my reading. It seemed to imply that Thea was the only Keeper who became connected to the inn. But Kip said he had seen 9 Keepers die. Another thing I found confusing was that there were 3 Silent Sisters, but they were assigned to the 4 cardinal directions. Toward the end of the novel, the fact that Thea tried to do everything on her own kept being mentioned. It didn't need to be brought up so many times in consecutive chapters. I got it the first several times. The repetition toward the end of the novel seemed to be prolonging the ending unnecessarily.
All in all, I really enjoy this book and would read another by Devon Yates.
June 14, 2026
Not a continuation of the first Thistledown Hollow book
If you are expecting a continuation of the first book you will be just as disappointed as I am. This is virtually a rewrite of the first book changing most of it. There are some of the same characters but they have aged significantly even though the book takes place before the first book ended. There are characters that are now husband and wife instead of mother and son and families that are completely split up. Thea dies in a different way and at a younger age. Thea and Wren have a totally different relationship and there is a curse that is referenced several times but never explained. I will not be reading anymore of the books by this author. I almost stopped reading several times as she kept going back and forth calling a character he and then she when a woman was talking about her husband. This was a very frustrating book and not worth reading if you liked the first one.
If you are expecting a continuation of the first book you will be just as disappointed as I am. This is virtually a rewrite of the first book changing most of it. There are some of the same characters but they have aged significantly even though the book takes place before the first book ended. There are characters that are now husband and wife instead of mother and son and families that are completely split up. Thea dies in a different way and at a younger age. Thea and Wren have a totally different relationship and there is a curse that is referenced several times but never explained. I will not be reading anymore of the books by this author. I almost stopped reading several times as she kept going back and forth calling a character he and then she when a woman was talking about her husband. This was a very frustrating book and not worth reading if you liked the first one.
June 10, 2026
I vaguely liked the first book, not for the quality of the writing, but for the very gentle story - it was excactly what I needed at the time of reading.
I understand that this book is marketed as a stand-alone, but it is also marketed as being "from the bestselling world of Thistledown Hollow". What it is not marketed as is an alternate timeline. This book needs an editor even more than the first one. The wonky plot is one thing, but the consistency errors are on a whole other level... Sadie E did a very good (and funny) job of listing them, see her 1 star review if you'd like to read all about it.
I'm giving up (at 13%). Raging about all the changes to the characters and the retconned romance between Wren and Milo is not what I need. Or ever want. I might read "The Fox and the Innkeeper" once I've forgotten about this disaster of a book. But then again... probably not.
I understand that this book is marketed as a stand-alone, but it is also marketed as being "from the bestselling world of Thistledown Hollow". What it is not marketed as is an alternate timeline. This book needs an editor even more than the first one. The wonky plot is one thing, but the consistency errors are on a whole other level... Sadie E did a very good (and funny) job of listing them, see her 1 star review if you'd like to read all about it.
I'm giving up (at 13%). Raging about all the changes to the characters and the retconned romance between Wren and Milo is not what I need. Or ever want. I might read "The Fox and the Innkeeper" once I've forgotten about this disaster of a book. But then again... probably not.
September 27, 2026
Messy…
This was such a confusing read. I went into this book right after reading the first book, The Inn at Thistledown Hollow, and I anticipated continuity. There was very little continuity besides the character names. Whole characters changed, situations changed, relationships changed, backgrounds changed, even genders changed at times. Circumstances around a character’s death changed. It was so confusing and disappointing. I can’t think of any way to read this as a series or a standalone. It reads like an initial draft of the idea of a book, with no editing, no guidance. After reading the book I checked out some of the reviews and some say it may be AI. If so, no one read it before having it published. Very sad indeed. Two stars is pushing it but I enjoyed the first book and I refuse to let this one take that away.
This was such a confusing read. I went into this book right after reading the first book, The Inn at Thistledown Hollow, and I anticipated continuity. There was very little continuity besides the character names. Whole characters changed, situations changed, relationships changed, backgrounds changed, even genders changed at times. Circumstances around a character’s death changed. It was so confusing and disappointing. I can’t think of any way to read this as a series or a standalone. It reads like an initial draft of the idea of a book, with no editing, no guidance. After reading the book I checked out some of the reviews and some say it may be AI. If so, no one read it before having it published. Very sad indeed. Two stars is pushing it but I enjoyed the first book and I refuse to let this one take that away.
May 6, 2026
A Magical Escape
The Inn at Thistledown Hollow was such a cozy, magical escape. From the very beginning, I felt completely pulled into the charm of the inn, the whimsical atmosphere, and the quiet magic woven throughout the story. It had the perfect balance of comfort, mystery, and heart.
The setting was beautifully written and honestly made me wish I could pack a bag and stay there myself. The characters felt warm and memorable, and the story had that peaceful, enchanting feeling that makes you want to curl up with a blanket and keep reading “just one more chapter.”
If you’re looking for a comforting read filled with magic, charm, and a little wonder, this book is absolutely worth picking up. I loved every minute of it.
The Inn at Thistledown Hollow was such a cozy, magical escape. From the very beginning, I felt completely pulled into the charm of the inn, the whimsical atmosphere, and the quiet magic woven throughout the story. It had the perfect balance of comfort, mystery, and heart.
The setting was beautifully written and honestly made me wish I could pack a bag and stay there myself. The characters felt warm and memorable, and the story had that peaceful, enchanting feeling that makes you want to curl up with a blanket and keep reading “just one more chapter.”
If you’re looking for a comforting read filled with magic, charm, and a little wonder, this book is absolutely worth picking up. I loved every minute of it.
April 5, 2026
I really wanted to like this. A magical village with healing tea, a special inn, and a talking fox is right up my alley. However, I'm noting many of the same issues I saw in the first book. So many inconsistencies, plot holes, overly saccharine prose, etc. I noted wrong names, names out of nowhere, wrong pronouns, times changes (i.e. something happening in 5 days is suddenly almost 2 weeks away). The absolute repetitiveness is horrendous and is nothing more than filler. The further I read the more I'm sure this is AI drivel the "author" didn't bother reading and correcting before publishing. Such a shame.
May 19, 2026
Seriously, imho this is NOT a stand alone story
3 stars for now. Even before I finished the first chapter, I felt like I was in the middle of another story. Like I had missed so much important information that what I was given wasn't nearly enough. I bookmarked my location and searched for Thistledown Hollow. I am just under two chapters into the "first" book and already feel like I understand more than I did. Even though, I still don't understand why Sarah knows both Wren and Helen. Please, please connect these books as a series even if someone is trying to list them as stand alone. Reading the first book is important, IMHO.
3 stars for now. Even before I finished the first chapter, I felt like I was in the middle of another story. Like I had missed so much important information that what I was given wasn't nearly enough. I bookmarked my location and searched for Thistledown Hollow. I am just under two chapters into the "first" book and already feel like I understand more than I did. Even though, I still don't understand why Sarah knows both Wren and Helen. Please, please connect these books as a series even if someone is trying to list them as stand alone. Reading the first book is important, IMHO.
July 16, 2026
First was much better
I thoroughly enjoyed the first Thistledown Hollow book & was delighted to find this. However, I found myself struggling to finish it.
My first difficulty is that "Winter" took a couple of steps back in storyline, as the main character was now struggling to achieve what she had succeeded in doing in the first book.
Second, whatever editor or proofreader (if any!) worked on this book failed utterly. There are multiple places where there are scenes repeated, the timeline is out of sync, and notable contradictions.
I am truly sorry to feel the need to write this review, but felt it needed to shared so others might not be blindsided.
I thoroughly enjoyed the first Thistledown Hollow book & was delighted to find this. However, I found myself struggling to finish it.
My first difficulty is that "Winter" took a couple of steps back in storyline, as the main character was now struggling to achieve what she had succeeded in doing in the first book.
Second, whatever editor or proofreader (if any!) worked on this book failed utterly. There are multiple places where there are scenes repeated, the timeline is out of sync, and notable contradictions.
I am truly sorry to feel the need to write this review, but felt it needed to shared so others might not be blindsided.
May 3, 2026
A cozy, comforting read.
I enjoyed the ambiance and wisdom. I WA annoyed and disturbed by inconsistent references. In particular when Helena is talking about her spouse the personal pronouns include he, they and she, the spouse is referred to by a male name most of the time, then, once, referred to as Elizabeth?!
In the aftermath of the big ritual Helena mention having done this work for 200 years, no previous mention. How do they get from Inn to greenhouse? Is it magic, underground tunnel, or through the driving snow?
Anyway these things interrupt the flow for me.
I enjoyed the ambiance and wisdom. I WA annoyed and disturbed by inconsistent references. In particular when Helena is talking about her spouse the personal pronouns include he, they and she, the spouse is referred to by a male name most of the time, then, once, referred to as Elizabeth?!
In the aftermath of the big ritual Helena mention having done this work for 200 years, no previous mention. How do they get from Inn to greenhouse? Is it magic, underground tunnel, or through the driving snow?
Anyway these things interrupt the flow for me.
May 5, 2026
Again, I loved the concept but was constantly aware of editing misses. In the first book, Wren inherits the inn while in the city and her mother is sending job opportunities. In the second, Wren was an orphan and Thea's apprentice. In the first book Emma was Rosie's sister when they visited because of Rosie's uncontrolled magic, now she is an orphan and Rosie is the same age living in the village? And don't get me started on the backstories of Theo and the baker. Again, I loved the premise, but the editing is severely lacking. AI?
June 1, 2026
I read the previous two books in the Thistledown universe, and really enjoyed them. This book was a disaster. I realize it was a standalone book - but don’t use the same characters from one book to the next book if nothing is going to agree. Timelines were distorted, character relations were confused, genders were confused.
There was a good book in there somewhere - but it should be severely edited before anyone reads it again. Glad that I read it on Kindle Unlimited, because it was free. Not worth spending time or money on.
There was a good book in there somewhere - but it should be severely edited before anyone reads it again. Glad that I read it on Kindle Unlimited, because it was free. Not worth spending time or money on.
June 6, 2026
Serious editing needed
The premis and the story are beautiful. It could be a nice cozy read. Unfortunately, there are serious errors in the timeline, both between the end of the first book and this book and within this book. One chapter ends with 5 days to go, the next chapter begins with two weeks to go, then refers to characters meeting after an event that happened when they had only 5 days to go. The theme of doing things differently, of sharing the load, of not burning yourself out is repeated far too frequently.
The premis and the story are beautiful. It could be a nice cozy read. Unfortunately, there are serious errors in the timeline, both between the end of the first book and this book and within this book. One chapter ends with 5 days to go, the next chapter begins with two weeks to go, then refers to characters meeting after an event that happened when they had only 5 days to go. The theme of doing things differently, of sharing the load, of not burning yourself out is repeated far too frequently.
September 5, 2026
If you’re looking for a cosy read, one that you can take with you anywhere and give you that good feeling of comfort and joy, this is exactly the one you’ve been looking for.
We have magic, struggle, love and a little bit more.
We have everything. And some nice learnings as well. One of the most important would be that you should never drain yourself because you are important. Don’t hesitate to ask for help and instead do everything by yourself. The novel was so refreshing and empowering that I couldn’t let my Kindle down.
5⭐️, chapeau!
We have magic, struggle, love and a little bit more.
We have everything. And some nice learnings as well. One of the most important would be that you should never drain yourself because you are important. Don’t hesitate to ask for help and instead do everything by yourself. The novel was so refreshing and empowering that I couldn’t let my Kindle down.
5⭐️, chapeau!
May 16, 2026
Lovely story -Needs an editor
The Thistledown novels are enchanting. It is a gentle read that is very much like drinking the perfect cup of tea. It’s only flaws, the glaring mistakes in gender words, using she when talking about Helena’s dead husband and, and the shift in time where we go from 3 days until the convergence to 9 days. Some story inconsistencies pull the reader out of the lovely rhythm of the tale.
The Thistledown novels are enchanting. It is a gentle read that is very much like drinking the perfect cup of tea. It’s only flaws, the glaring mistakes in gender words, using she when talking about Helena’s dead husband and, and the shift in time where we go from 3 days until the convergence to 9 days. Some story inconsistencies pull the reader out of the lovely rhythm of the tale.
August 5, 2026
3 and a half stars. When I started this book, I found the writing wonderfully lyrical and gorgeous. However the further I went, the more inconsistencies I found in the writing. A couple of times, whole passages seem to have been copied word for word; there were times when a character was talking about her dead husband and used the pronoun "she" instead of "he". At one point a person called Elizabeth was referred to in the context of the dead husband, but there weren't any characters of that name. Time was strange too, in that days passed but the "convergence" was still 14 days away! So whereas I started with 5 stars, they got reduced to 3 and a half.
May 4, 2026
Either very careless writing or AI
Names changed, then changed back. Repetitive scenes two pages apart. Endlessly repeated lines, like someone trying to reach a page or word count. Theory of book is good. Execution was careless to put it lightly. I actually liked book 1. It got a bit sloppy, but okay. It had a message. This, no, just no.
Names changed, then changed back. Repetitive scenes two pages apart. Endlessly repeated lines, like someone trying to reach a page or word count. Theory of book is good. Execution was careless to put it lightly. I actually liked book 1. It got a bit sloppy, but okay. It had a message. This, no, just no.
May 4, 2026
love this book!!!
I learned so much about the importance of intention in this story. I have known that intention is important in how we move through our lives and do our work, our art, our sharing of our gifts. This book helped me see this and how I can integrate intention into every aspect of my life.
I learned so much about the importance of intention in this story. I have known that intention is important in how we move through our lives and do our work, our art, our sharing of our gifts. This book helped me see this and how I can integrate intention into every aspect of my life.
Read
May 10, 2026Where was the editor for this book? Time lines that didn’t work, went from 2 weeks to 4 days back to 2 weeks, then into next month. Helena’s husband’s name and gender changed in the some sentence. Numerous people in the same rome at the inn without exception. Not stand alone many people showed up in the story and I had no idea how they fit in. More but getting lengthy.
May 15, 2026
Mixed feelings
I read the first book and was excited to see the story continue. BUT huge continuity errors kept jerking me out of the story, which is not a good thing and made it easy to put the book down. Normally I'd stop reading and move on to something else - so many books, so little time. I finished the book only to see how it ended.
I read the first book and was excited to see the story continue. BUT huge continuity errors kept jerking me out of the story, which is not a good thing and made it easy to put the book down. Normally I'd stop reading and move on to something else - so many books, so little time. I finished the book only to see how it ended.
Did Not Finish
June 23, 2026I could not finish this book.
The inconsistencies between this and the first book made it unbearable.
Did the author even read the first book? A boy in the first became an old man And his mother’s husband in this story! There’s only approximately six month’s timeline between the two. Wren’s backstory is different… Nope, nope, no.
The inconsistencies between this and the first book made it unbearable.
Did the author even read the first book? A boy in the first became an old man And his mother’s husband in this story! There’s only approximately six month’s timeline between the two. Wren’s backstory is different… Nope, nope, no.
July 8, 2026
Love the Thistledown Hollow books!
They are cozy and full of charming characters, a fox spirit, a sentient inn, magic, TEA, no sex, no violence, and no cliffhanger endings.
Please write more of these!
They are perfect for settling into a comfy reading chair with a pot of tea and some quiet music on a rainy or snowy day and just enjoying.
I highly recommend them!
They are cozy and full of charming characters, a fox spirit, a sentient inn, magic, TEA, no sex, no violence, and no cliffhanger endings.
Please write more of these!
They are perfect for settling into a comfy reading chair with a pot of tea and some quiet music on a rainy or snowy day and just enjoying.
I highly recommend them!
August 16, 2026
is it Ai?
This was a sweet and fun book, but I started to notice inconsistencies such as a pronoun changing from he to she. I looked up the book and found others noticed the same things and thought it was written by ai. If it wasn’t, someone should have proofread the book more carefully.
This was a sweet and fun book, but I started to notice inconsistencies such as a pronoun changing from he to she. I looked up the book and found others noticed the same things and thought it was written by ai. If it wasn’t, someone should have proofread the book more carefully.
August 24, 2026
Just a little bit of a magic touch
I liked it when they were making tea to keep the inn kept alive. But to never forget. But its quite magical.
Its about acceptance. I refer this to other readers. Who deserves chances in life full of beauty and magic. But full of benefits. And to reunite the comfort of believing comfort and understanding. And its excellent and enjoyable.
I liked it when they were making tea to keep the inn kept alive. But to never forget. But its quite magical.
Its about acceptance. I refer this to other readers. Who deserves chances in life full of beauty and magic. But full of benefits. And to reunite the comfort of believing comfort and understanding. And its excellent and enjoyable.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews